Seaside Holiday – Baby’s 1st Sea & Air Experience

It’s Kaja Let’s Go’s WordPress page 9th year anniversary, 9 years of documenting our travels and other memorable moments as a couple, and now as a family of three. We can’t afford an anniversary giveaway though but we have a special travel blog post.

It’s the love month again, for us it’s an extra special month since our baby girl just turned one year old! My baby rode an airplane and a boat, went to the beach..achievement for a travel-holic mommy hehe. Let us tell you more about it, “Kaja let’s go baby to Boracay!”A day after her birthday party, we flew to Boracay, just the three of us, our private celebration moment.

Baby at the AirportFor domestic flights, no need to present baby’s passport, we only showed the photocopy of her PSA issued birth certificate. To be sure, I also brought the original one but the airport staff is ok with just the photocopied version. We don’t have check-in baggages on our flights. Baby’s sitting on our laps, but the airline charged us a minimal handling fee on both flights.There’s an Infant Feeding Station near Gate 119 at NAIA Terminal 3, while waiting for our boarding announcement, I breastfed my baby inside the room. A Kiddie Play Area is also available just beside this room, but I wasn’t able to take a photo outside.Baby is not scared inside the plane even during take off and descend, most of the time she’s just playing with the airline’s magazine and other paper stuff in the chair.Upon arrival at Godofredo Ramos airport, we just looked for Klook’s booth, they took the printed voucher and gave us stickers an tickets for the jetty port. Just right outside the airport gate, their bus is waiting for us. From the airport, it’s just a 10 minute drive to Cagban Jetty Port.Baby at the Port

Now, it’s time for baby’s first sea travel. Again, baby’s not scared on both boat rides. We chose Boracay as our first family domestic travel due to the convenience of transportation. The transfers from air, sea and land is easy and accessible compared to others. After 10 minutes, we have arrived at the island.Baby at Boracay Island

Before exiting the port’s gate, our service is waiting and it took at least 15 minutes till we arrived at our hotel. We arrived 11:30am but the check-in time is 2:00pm so we left our bags with the hotel’s reception and we had our lunch nearby.On our first day, it was raining from late afternoon till evening, we have no choice but to stay indoors. It was only Daddy who went outside and bought ramen for our dinner.Second day, we are all early risers and excited to go at the seaside. After our breakfast, we walked along the shore going to Willy’s Rock. When the morning sun is out, we wanted to go for a swim but baby got scared haha, just hearing the waves scares her..and yep, we did not swam at all for the entire trip.We went to D’Mall for lunch, and just strolled along the shore the whole afternoon. Of course, pizza and pasta for our last island dinner.Third day, we just had a short seaside stroll since we have to check-out earlier due to our airport pick-up service arriving at 10:00am.

Royal Park Resort HotelLocated in beachfront of Station 1, a short walk from Willy’s Rock and a 10 minutes walk to D-Mall. We chose to stay in Station 1 area this time and it’s better, lesser crowd even on the shore. We booked this via Agoda, it’s cheaper online than on the spot booking, they charge P5,500.00 per night if you’ll walk in. Overall, we enjoyed our stay with them and will check-in here if we return to Boracay.The room is fair enough, the staff are all friendly and accommodating. I also like that they have a buffet breakfast, I really enjoyed it hehe.

Our third time visiting Boracay Island, but first time with a baby. For me, I like this cleaner, quieter version of the island. Or it just happened that we went on a weekday plus the current nCOV threat. I’m still on a vacay-high, a bit lazy & tired but honestly, travelling with a baby ain’t easy.

Our next goal, fly international with baby. For now, let’s take it slow and save up not just for travels, but for baby’s future as well.

Thanks for reading!

First Time Flyers Guide (Domestic)

We admit it, at first, we’re not really fond of promo airfares, our mindset’s not prepared for flights yet hehe. Whenever our colleagues goes into rush when a piso fare is announced, yeah we just don’t mind it haha. Then last February, out of curiosity, we booked online with Cebu Pacific. And you know what this means? Yes, here’s our dummies guide to first time flyers like you, like us..yep, at the age of 24 y/o, finally we rode an airplane hahaha 🙂

Commuting to NAIA? Most of domestic flights are in NAIA Terminal 3. Taxis are the easiest way to get here but it’s pricey. We rode the taxi from Taft Avenue, Manila w/c costs us around Php 150.00. Or you can ride the airport shuttles at EDSA Taft across Metropoint, fare is Php 20.00 each. This is cheaper but going to EDSA Taft is another haggard situation you may want to consider hehe.

You’re now at NAIA? You’ll see gate entrances w/ numbers, then your baggage, hand carry will pass through a scanner and you’ll get a body inspection too. No need to remove your watch, earrings, accessories, shoes. Get your bags from the scanner and now you’re inside the airport, you’ll see this…

You have boarding pass?  Near the check in counters, there are booths where you can print your boarding pass. You can also do this online, all thanks to CebPac’s updated email notifications. If you don’t have a printer, a screen shot of your boarding pass will do too. We did this on Puerto Princesa Airport & the crew accepted our boarding pass screenshots. Boarding pass needs to be presented in check in/bag drop counters so they can issue another printed boarding pass that looks like a receipt w/ attached baggage number.

 

Have you checked in yet? Nope, this is not about checking in w/ your social accounts to update that you’re in the airport hahaha (I know you do!). See those counters w/ airline labels? This is where you need to have your baggage be checked in. CebPac also sends an email 2 days prior to your flight, asking you to check in. In our case, we checked in online then we also checked in at the airport haha to be sure. We arrived 2 hours prior our flight schedule. Below are some of photos we took for your easier guide 🙂

Boarding Pass & Check In Done? Now what’s next? You’re free to roam around & take pictures in the airport, haha.

I’m serious, this is your free time while waiting for your boarding time. Or you may just proceed to the gate number indicated in your boarding pass.

I’m at my assigned gate number.  Just sit back, a few minutes before boarding time, pay attention to the announcements. The airline crew will explain your flight’s boarding announcement. Remember that guests seated at rows 1-15 enters the front entrance of the airplane, while rows 16 up take the rear entrance. Be kind enough to give way for elderly, pregnant, disabled persons. (O diba kabisado?!hehe) 

Inside the plane. 

For 1st time flyers or not, admit it, we all took photos inside the plane haha :p Aside from this, place your hand carry bag on drawers over head or under the seat in front of you. Pay attention to what the crews are discussing, they’ll have a game later on the flight where you can win airline goodies. Also, take time to read the safety instruction card.

Take note. 

• Mobile phones / any electronic devices should be switched off while inside the plane. Haha but we now have airplane mode in our mobile phones, etc. so this solves it.
• Never travel w/ an empty stomach, neither eat in full, avoid oily foods too.
• Seats located across the airplane wing gives a more stable motion in flight. We had seats like this on our flight back to Manila, but we found it bumpy hehe.
• Terminal fee in NAIA is included on your booked airfare, no need to pay in the airport. While terminal fee in provinces are not included, so you still need to pay for it.
• If possible, be at the airport at least 2 hours prior your flight schedule. Daig ng maagap ang masipag 🙂

I guess, these are the basics that every first time flyers should know. Have a fun and safe flight!

Thanks and please rate. 🙂